McDonald's is copying one of Chick-fil-A and Panera's strategies

McDonald's
McDonald's is releasing a new salad mix that's a bit different than the one that customers are accustomed to — and that draws inspiration from other restaurant chains.

The fast-food chain announced on Tuesday that it will be using a new salad blend, which will now include red leaf lettuce and carrot curls, starting in early-June.

"Color in produce is an expression of different nutrients," Jessica Foust, a McDonald's Chef and registered dietitian, said in a statement. "The new salad blend offers at least 2.5 cups of vegetables."

The new blend is part of a wider move at McDonald's to create salads that go beyond the boring, iceberg mix. Last year, McDonald's ditched iceberg lettuce in favor of romaine, along with baby spinach and kale, reports Brand Eating.

McDonald's isn't alone in its tweaks.

Chick-fil-A's Spicy Southwest Salad
Hayley Peterson/Business Insider

Chick-fil-A has been one of the most innovative chains in recent years when it comes to salads, launching a superfood side with kale and broccolini in January. The one thing that Chick-fil-A will not put in its salads: the flavorless iceberg lettuce.

"It's at the bottom of the salad food chain," David Farmer, Chick-fil-A vice president of menu strategy and development, told Business Insider in April. "There is no nutritional value in iceberg lettuce."

Instead, if a chain wants to attract modern health-conscious customers, more is more. Customers want more flavors, more colors, and even more calories — assuming they are packed with nutrients, like avocado, celebrated for its "healthy" fat.

It looks like McDonald's is taking notes from fast-casual competitors and moving in the direction of "more is more." Red lettuce and carrot curls may seem like little touches, but they represent a chain trying to create a salad that is packed with colors and nutrients — not just a low-calorie, iceberg lettuce-filled substitute for a burger.